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Jan Term 2015: "Lives Well Lived"

For 2015, our community selected "Lives Well Lived" as our Jan Term theme. Take a moment to reflect on some of the most interesting notes submitted on this theme by students, faculty, and staff...

“Lives Well Lived” describes what Jan Term is all about: enriching our academic experience and providing us, through travel and on-campus courses, a college life well lived.Jan Term encourages exploration, both of the mind and in life.

The phrase brings to mind an intentional way of life - a life that is not simply something that happens, but something that is experienced. It's the difference between being passive or active, of acquiescing or being critical. "Lives well lived" is a reflection of the way in which we hope all Saint Mary's students, staff, and faculty will live their lives.

"Lives Well Lived" sounds very promising in that it suggests an experience-based approach to the basic philosophical question of how best to live.I think it would encourage faculty to think about how their courses relate to their and their students' lives.

What a great theme! Relevant to life in general and to what I think should be the purpose of higher education at the undergraduate level: to equip students with the tools to live an examined life that will empower them to discover their authentic selves, a discovery that is the sine qua non of a life well lived.

I believe that, with the constant bombardment of information and the extraordinary amount of "Life enhancement" activities and opportunities at our fingertips, there is a craving for direction and wisdom about how to make decisions that will lead to a life well lived. We are preoccupied with the question: what path will lead me to a fulfilling life? I think this topic is timely and important and can lead to a holistic consideration of mind, body, spirit in both the topics we choose and the ways in which they will be presented.

“Lives Well Lived” calls to mind reflectiveness and an examination of what it means to have lived a good life. This is where interpretation and subjectivity come in. People can discuss how they think a life well lived should be like… There is the potential to have people really reflect on life and how they really want to spend it.

Everyone hopes to have a life well lived and looks to others for aspirational models. It’s exciting and engaging to have this theme for Jan Term 2015!